Living inside the box can get kind of stuffy, while outside there's lots of fresh air.

Appologize, my story had a mouse, but there were no people, but candy characters. I wonder about making the mouse a chubby red cheeked sticky fingered little boy. My 'eeek' was a challenge from my Sis and Dad, said I had to do funny, no serious for this one.

So, I'm being bad about putting this idea on here without making the first list, but the one that came to mind as "out of the box" that no one has mentioned is "firing ceramics". A whole story could be done about a dollmaker who has to fire the ceramics in her kiln to make the doll.

OKGuardianAngel wrote:So, I'm being bad about putting this idea on here without making the first list, but the one that came to mind as "out of the box" that no one has mentioned is "firing ceramics". A whole story could be done about a dollmaker who has to fire the ceramics in her kiln to make the doll.

He sighed at the relief. Those first flames always soothed the unease -- the antsyness that wouldn't let him rest. He'll sleep good tonight. Another sigh released the tension in his head and calm flowed through his whole body.

He'd better start walking though. Sirens were getting closer and he hid his bike in the bushes across the street.

Jeremy took out his Snicker's bar and moseyed his way along the sidewalk glancing back at the rising flames. Watching his fires always made him hungry. He couldn't figure out why, but he brought two with him this time. Now he could settle down and watch the action.

Jan, I just wanted to thank you for the many good lessons you've taught us already in your clear teaching. I was working on a poem for a contest and wanted it to be "out of the box." I went back to your lesson on the villanelle, had such fun with your easy-to-follow-directions and was very pleased with the result. Again, thank you for being such a good teacher.

I seriously must be Mrs Plod. I thought of the most ordinary Fire word associations ever!
RED
FLICKER
BURNS
TERROR
WARMTH
Okay-- Jan your classes are invaluable- now for out of the box.

'Maximum charge reached now.'
'Stand clear then.' The doctor scanned the area for potential danger. 'Fire.'
The flat line the had for too long been a prolonged dirge hovered mid screen, then twitched before picking up the tiniest trace of life.

I had the same as everyone else.
1. fired from job
2. house fire
3. Jesus' eyes - flames of fire
4. fire of gun
5. where there's smoke there's fire

My out of the box: (fire as in breaking a leg, injuries, etc.)

Cheryl snatched her jacket from the hall closet and wriggled into it while taking a last glance in the mirror. This is it! The last day of school -forever! Shoving the front door aside she took a happy leap and sailed over the thick cement stairs to the drivway. However, instead of the perfect landed she'd expected, her ankle suddenly caught on the third stair, catapulting her sideways. Brown ponytail sailing, Cheryl flailed her arms wildly as she sped toward a head on collision with her mother's garden of columbines. Lurching sideways, she managed to crash on the lawn instead and froze in a crumpled heap. Flaming spears of pain sliced up her leg as she braced against panic. Never had she felt this kind of pain. Not ever. in all of her four cheerleading livelong years.

With something like "flaming spears of pain"--you'd have to be very careful to be sure to be enough "on topic" for the judges. If that was for a challenge piece, and that was your only mention of the topic of "fire"--it's a bit of a stretch. "Fire", in that case, might not be really integral to your piece, being only a metaphor for pain.

It's a fine line, isn't it? If you get too far OOTB, then you run the risk of not being on topic.

It could be done, if the metaphor is used throughout the piece, or the metaphor becomes significant to Cheryl somehow.